Six Tips for More Fuel-efficient Driving

One thing I love about Austin is how environmentally conscious it is. Mazda has been rated the most fuel-economical brand for five years in a row, so we at Roger Beasley try to encourage that. Even if you don’t have a hybrid or electric vehicle, there are several ways you can drive “greener” to increase fuel efficiency and save some money at the pump.

1. Keep up with regularly scheduled maintenance.

Keeping your car up to date with maintenance helps it run optimally, which, in turn, helps your car get the best gas mileage. Regularly replacing air filters can increase your car’s efficiency as much as 10 percent.

2. Make sure the tires are properly inflated.

Driving on properly inflated tires is not only better for your vehicle and the longevity of your car’s tires, but it also helps improve fuel efficiency.

3. Don’t speed.

Gas mileage significantly decreases above 60 mph. On Texas highways, the speed limit is often 70 mph or higher, so to help with gas efficiency, use cruise control whenever possible.

4. Avoid aggressive driving.

The short stops and fast acceleration that often characterize aggressive driving can decrease your car’s gas mileage by more than 33 percent.

5. Travel light.

Taking excess items out of your vehicle can help improve gas mileage as well. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk of a car can cut efficiency by about 2 percent. Also, removing roof racks or storage when not necessary will help reduce drag and resistance while driving and, therefore, save you gas.

6. Turn off your car while idling.

The average vehicle wastes more than 1 cup of fuel for every 10 minutes spent idling. If you’re going to be stuck at a traffic light or train tracks for more than 30 seconds, it’s more fuel-efficient to turn your car off than it is to leave it idling.

Chelsea Bancroft is the strategic-partnerships and social-media manager at Roger Beasley Mazda and a blogger at onechelofanadventure.com.